She asked me about those children, and I only said that they are also orphans like me; she didn't ask any further. So I asked her about my doubt, I asked her about the first rank martial potion.
She first looked at me with doubt and asked why do you need it? But I only told her that I am doing martial practice and will soon reach the first rank, she completely took my words as a lie. And said no children of 11 years can reach first rank martial artist, but I told her that I did and showed my strength to her by bending an iron rod I found in the kitchen.
She looked baffled but soon compose her and did not tell me anything about the martial potion. And told me to hide my strength from now on, and tomorrow she will talk with me about the first rank martial potion and my strength, but until then, I need to hide my strength. She told me that people like me are martial geniuses, who need to be careful in public. I did not understand why she was concerned, but nonetheless, I followed her advice and took everyone back, and after doing my usual training session in night with Yuki, I went to sleep.
The next day I woke and followed my daily routine, then prepared breakfast for everyone. As I was thinking about going towards the bakery, someone knocked on the door of my hut. I immediately went towards the door, opening it, I saw Grandma Rose standing at my door. I was surprised after seeing her in the morning, but then I remembered that yesterday she said about coming to my home.
So I welcomed her and said my greetings, and she also greeted me back. Getting inside, Yuki and all the children also greeted her, looking at the cramped space inside the hut, she looked a bit flustered, as with all of us. It is difficult to find a place to sit in the room.
So I told Yuki to take the children outside as I needed to talk with Grandma Rose about the first-grade martial potion. She did as I said. Grandma Rose looked at Yuki as she walked out of the hut with the children.
After Yuki went out, she looked at me and said, "If I am right, then you need that strengthening potion for Yuki, right, Ryuk?"
I was lost for words as to how she knew about this, but then, before I could ask, she replied for herself and said, "Don't get surprised, Ryuk. Before retiring and having a bakery in this backwater town, I had many adventures. I know about martial arts more than anyone in this town; there are more than two people in the whole Ashborn city who know about martial arts better than me."
I was lost for words, as I didn't expect her to know so much. The sweet bakery Grandma is some kind of martial expert, but how could I not know about it till now, so I asked my doubt, "But Grandma Rose, you didn't look like some great martial expert."
She just smiled after hearing my words and said, "Little Ryuk, martial artists are not the only ones who can reach the top of this world, you do not need strength to do everything, sometimes money and connections can do it, and for your information, I was an apprentice alchemist. An Alchemist is someone who is way above those scientists who make strengthening potions."
"That strengthening potion most of the people in this city consume is nothing but rubbish, for true martial artist pills are the most desired thing. Pills are an upgraded and evolved version of the strengthening potion, more ancient than it. Only a rich and true martial artist can use it, for the masses, a strengthening potion is enough. And we Alchemists are the ones who study and do pill making."
Hearing her words, I understood that she had a quiet background. But nonetheless, I need to ask why she is telling me all this, because as an adult living with a child's body, I can understand that buying a strengthening potion is already too hard for me, much less a pill which I only heard about now, so why is she telling me this? I can't dismiss that there is some ulterior motive behind her actions.
So I asked her, "But Grandma Rose, why are you telling me all this? I am smart enough to know that it is not just because of kindness; if you have been kind enough, then you would not have overworked me in that bakery just for some copper coins."
Hearing she twitched as the smile on her face faded, and she said, "You brat, when did I ever force you to overwork?" Seeing her face, I braced my ears to be pulled by her.
But then calming her anger, she said, "Little Ryuk, you are very smart for a 11 year child, but again, living as an orphan, you needed that smartness to live peacefully."
Then she sighed and said, "You know, Ryuk, I was just like you. An orphan, but I had a big sister, and we both picked rags to survive. But one day, due to our luck, we got a notice from our master. She saw talent in my big sister and took her as a disciple. I also got accepted as a disciple. After that, my life took a sharper turn, from ground I reached heaven in a single step, you could not imagine how many things I have seen, this city or that mega city is just a tip of the iceberg, this world is too big, Ryuk."
"I have seen and done many adventures, but ultimately I never crossed my limit. Unlike my sister, I did not have any talent, so I practiced alchemy, but even in it, I was only able to reach third grade, an alchemist. So, I decided not to become a burden on my sister, and despite rejection from my seniors and master, I chose to retire and came back to this town where I spent my childhood, and that old man who gave you this hut was one of my childhood friends, an orphan like me."
I was confused by her words. Why is she telling me her story? Seeing my confusion, she continued, "I know Ryuk, you want to know why I am telling you all this, and what is my motive behind all this? To tell you the truth, Ryuk, I had a burden inside me of falling behind my seniors and master because of my low talent, but you and that girl Yuki had that talent inside you, maybe not as good as a true genius, but if you reach first grade martial artist realm at 11, then you can at least be called a genius."
"Ryuk, you may think that your talent is immense because you live in this small city, but I have seen a genius who can overpower you in a single day. My own big sister reached the first-grade martial artist realm in a single day. You are nothing compared to real geniuses, but still you guys are unpolished gems in this mud-like town. I want you to become disciples of my master through you guys I can at least relieve my burden."
"So tell me, Ryuk, this is an opportunity for you. I can introduce you, and after that, you will reach a place you can't imagine even in your dreams. This place is not for geniuses like you. You can live the life I wasn't able to because of talent."
I heard her words and thought about it, and after several minutes I said, "I can agree about myself, but I need to ask Yuki, and even if she agrees, we need to secure a place for those children. I am sure Yuki is not going to abandon them."
Hearing this, she smiled and said, "Don't worry about it, those children also had some talent in them, I can see. If they work diligently, then they can also be accepted as disciples. Till then, they can live with you. My master will happily give you more than a whole mountain for living."
Saying this, she stood up while I also went out, as I needed to ask Yuki about her decision.